2020 Week 7 Preview

This is a big week, no no offense taken. You know, as you know my my team took an ultra dirt nap a week ago and they've somehow been erased from the landscape. Maybe they'll be back. You know, everything could change very quickly, Mark, Yes, this is week seven the preview uh for the Around the NFL Podcast. You're gonna get a recap h from Greg and a mystery guest Giants Eagles, which leaves us it little rusty here. Thirty two teams, four teams them buy two teams already played.

Leaves us with teams divided by two games to talk about. I mean, you know your college baby, the math before the show, you had like four or five days before the show here to figure out the math versus now, well that that would be cheating. You know that that was all in real time and that was special for me and I'm proud um to see improvement in a year where not many things have improved. But boys, let's get into it, and you know how we do it.

Every week it's draft style picking every game. We also have our locks of the week. Uh, and that's that's a very uh that's a very big uh competition between us. But before we get to that, I want to talk about a little bit Ravens news. Boys, YANNIKN. Gockway, now member of the Baltimore Ravens, traded by the UH Minnesota Vikings. So he does a quick quick stop over with the Vikings. Who knows dive this season are now looking toward and in Gockway gives the Ravens a proven pass rusher, which

Greg that's a player they needed they do. You know, I think people outside of Baltimore probably don't realize how much their pass rush has struggled this year. And when they're not blitzing, Matthew Judaan is probably not gonna be there long term. So maybe in Gockway is and you only gave up a third and fifth round pick. In the event that they don't sign in Gockway, there's a chance they could get a compensatory pick a year later anyway, so they're they're almost getting them for free. And Uh.

It says more about the Vikings, who were willing to give up a second round pick a month ago. Now they moved back around maybe around and a half. Considering the two teams are very different. They're giving up on this season. They're looking to next year. And it makes me think Rick Spielman their GM and Mike zimmer Uh their coach, who both got contract extensions before this year.

I feel like they're they're safe, like and I would have assumed I would have thought they would have been safe, But to be making moves like this where they're almost trying to get worse for makes me think they're probably safe and they're they've been given some assurances that they're gonna get to see this rebuild all the way through. Maybe that's that's interesting. I think it also depends what happens between now and the end of the season in

terms of safety. But you know, they've kept Rick Spielman around through various regimes. I think part of the equation here, and Spielman mentioned this today, was that Daniel Hunter he is having surgery for a herniated disc and knocking him out for the year. And their whole plan all along, who's having Gockway and and Hunter together, and and that plan has completely fallen apart. So I know it's well, I know, I'm just saying it's easy to pie all

on the Vikings. But maybe they thought look at and Goqui is not here long term in our eyes, and so we got something back. But you'd have to look at guys like Anthony Harris, their safety and other players that maybe could be available before the trade deadline if further moves happened from Minnesota. You're they're telling us we

are giving up on this season. I mean, they look like they've given up on the field to me half, even if they haven't given up, they've lost so many games now they're they're pretty much cooked as it is. But uh yeah, nice pick up by the Ravens. All right, let's get to the Week seven action now, and I have the first overall pick, and I'm very happy too. I'm running to the podium to hand in the ticket for Steelers Titans. Oh my goodness, battle of the last two undefeated teams in the a f C. And this

is a great game. Not just because they're undefeated, not just because their ranked number two and number three in the old Zeuser's Power rankings, although that feels like the driving momentum behind this game. I feel like what this is is like a really hard game to pick because Ryan Tohannehill and Derrick Henry and the Titans offense looks so unstoppable, uh this past week. And you know, everyone is on fire obviously and rightly so about Derrick Henry

going off for two yards some scrimmage. But you know, kind of the biggest takeaway from me the last couple of weeks is that Ryan Tannehill is not just the guy that's going to approach his play from last year,

but looks like the same guy. So it's like, Okay, so you have Tannehill playing at an all pro level, uh, and then you put him into this mix with this great, solid all around team and Mike Rabel, who's got this team coached up very well against the Steelers, who are another team that's clicking right now on both sides of the ball. So you got Tannehill in the Titans offense,

you got Migah Fitzpatrick and the Steelers defense. You have no Taylor Luan at left tackle for the Titans after torn a c L. You have no Devon bush Uh in the front seven for the Steelers after a torn a c L. What an even fun game? Stuff? Not fun everything else. I love it. Yeah, you usually trust the team that's better, you know, offensively and the better quarterback.

And it's so weird that that's obviously the Titans. I mean, I think the Steeler's offense has been fine, and James Conner looks a lot better uh in mid October than he did in mid September, and that's big for them. And Ben hit a big Ben hit a couple of long throws last week against the Browns, But he's more of a game manager. You you hit it with Tannehill, he's a He's a different player than he was a

year ago. Because Tannehill is getting it done, not just in play action, but he's not making mistakes in the straight drop back game and there are some big time differences. I think he's not taking sacks anymore. And man, he's amazing against pressure, and this is the game where that is going to be an ultimate test because no, no defense with you know that gets more pressure than the Steelers.

No defense has more guys that deserve double teams. Step onto it, and Cameron Hayward tortured your Brown's last week mark and it's like you don't even have to think about Dupree and what on the outside. Like those guys on the inside alone deserve double teams. And it's it's really hard to know who to stop with this Pittsburgh defense. It makes it a fascinating matchup. I mean I watched left guard for the Brown's Joel Bettonio, who has been a rock for years, get pretty handled by Cam Hayward.

Tannehill is a different quarterback than Baker Mayfield against pressure, though, I mean, we've been seeing this for a week after week. He is willing to take a massive shot as he unfurls a deep dart into the end zone and it's complete. When I think about Tannehill, it's kind of like this brings hope to us all. You can be relatively average in your job for eight years and then suddenly become a fascination to the eyes. And when I think of Derrick Henry, it's like, what does he remind me of?

It's like if you cut a wall out of your house and dropped it off a nineties story building to the ground. That's what he feels like running downhill. And the combination of these two and their offensive line, the way that their interior line is beaten broke. You broke my brain with that house since ninety story building that

I'm still trying to figure it out, honestly. Like I was showing some clips of this to my wife, Simone, and I don't know if she was intrigued by my analysis just what it looked like to me, like just gigantic, A gigantic being coming down hill at you two hundred miles an hour, and it shows, I mean, he wears teams down. This is a fascinating matchup because the Steelers what they're good at, they are good at week after week. I trust them to be I honestly, I think they're

better than the Ravens. I think that on offense are being a little bit underrated because they have such a rich variety of weapons, and a big Ben is big Ben. But guy like Guys like Chase Claypool make this a completely different attack. They're fun to watch. This is a crazy game. I can't wait to see baby dim the lights. I have some Derrick Henry highlights to show you more impressive than my highlights. So you know, no one's complaining. Um Derrick Henry. He for if you're of a certain age.

I think about bo Jackson. I think about herschel Walker, just like, how are you that fast and that strong? How can it be bigger than everyone and faster than everyone? Especially in that yard run? Greg, I am it does not go unnoticed. Greg, year after year. You know you don't like Ben Roethlisberger. You have an issue with him, all sorts of issues. I have been a bigger fan of him than anyone on the show time out. Last week it was he was big breeze this week. Now

he's been downgraded to a straight game manager. Next week he's gonna be you know, you know Joe Flacco lever level backup scrub. Where what's going on here? Man? I wrote? He saw NFL dot Com saying he was the most underrated quarterback of his generation, Like he's been a top five quarterback for ever, but he's a different player this year and he I thought he showed some things last week, hitting some throws down the field, but they're they're a

different offense. They're not built around Ben anymore. And that that's why I have a really hard time picking this game, because usually a trust offense. But wow, like this is such test of how good the Steelers defense really is. Tony Romo, I thought made a great point last week. The only way to beat them is not side to side. It's running straight at them. And who runs straight at you better than Derrick Henry, Like who hits deep shots

better than Ryan Tannehill. Where I think the secondary for the Steelers has some weaknesses, so we're gonna need the old Big Ben back out there. It's more a guy that I love them in the past, and I want to see that guy, Pat, I want to see him. This is just this is not just you. I'm seeing this pop up on football Twitter that it's kind of like all these subtle little shots at Big Ben's actually not that good this year. He's just kind of cruising along.

And when I watch the games, I see a guy maybe the numbers aren't there yet, but I think he is still he's much more than a game manager. I think he's a huge plus player. Uh, and you're going to continue to see it. This year. One of us will be right. I think he's he's still very good. People will be one over when he is victorious in the a f C title game. I mean, I think this is a a Mike Tomlin big Ben special this season. I can just feel it within that they want a

super Bowl with him as a game manager. They want a super Bowl with him as a game manager. Dan, it can't be done, but I think he'll get better. I'm not I'm not on the anti big Ben side. Don't I see what you're doing. You're trying to paint me in the corner. I'm taking the Steelers to win this game. We should pick it. Yeah, let's pick it. So you got the Steelers about you, Mark, I'm gonna go Tennessee by one point on the last second field goal. I'm kind of with you. I'm feeling you, feeling the

same thing. Very close game. Give it to the home team to pull it out. Can't wait. That's a number. That's Andrew luck in two thousand twelve. That's what that is. That's Joe Burrow that's Trevor Lawrence to the New York Jets up next in the draft. Greg Rosenthal, all right, I'm glad I can take Patriots forty niners off the board before it because he's a need. They need it. The Patriots do not want to follow the two and four, but you know what, Binners really need it to. Uh

they could fall under five hundred. And I'm fascinated to see two teams that I don't really trust either quarterback, so I don't trust their team as a whole. I know Jimmy g had a nice schemed up game last week and they worked it out. That's gonna be tough to do week after week. But I'm looking at Cam Newton and the Patriots as the passing attack that is the even bigger concerned this week because if you go back to Cam Newton's last game before he played the Broncos,

it was against the Raiders. He really struggled throwing the ball in that game. So I don't know if you can put everything on him missing practice and not having been conditioned going into the Broncos game. That's a factor, but a lot of it was him not being confident in his offense. There were some open receivers that he didn't pull the trigger. Uh, there was was a chance to win the game late where he has a couple open receivers again just holds onto it. It makes sense.

He's new in this offense. He's not comfortable. But if they don't get up to speed soon, I don't think it's gonna happen because the running game it's good, but defenses have really shut down the read option plays since week on, and so they need Cam Newton to start finding their receivers. Mark, I'm with you, I I I yeah. We always talk about the Patriots taking a leisurely month

to figure out who they are on offense. Well, I don't think that that journey is over by any stretch of the imagination, unless they want to be an attack centered around Ryan Izzoh. There's a lot of Ryanzo in our life right now. And it's a very um odd group of skill position players. And you know a guy like Julian Edelman, who when I watched the Seahawks game, he shined in that game, and so did Cam. You thought that was the way forward. I mean, he's just vanished.

And there there was a bizarre trick plays at the end of the game. But then I flip it over to Jimmy Jean. You know, watching that Rams game on Sunday night, here's a guy who threw beyond the line of scrimmage twice. I mean, they are leaning on yards after the catch, and they've got some guys that can make that productive. And they they thumped the Rams in that first half. So I mean, you know it's called

scheme right there. But I have to wonder if a Bill of Belichick has special knowledge of Jimmy g and and you know, and maybe maybe that's a little X factor here. But secondly, does Shanahan really trust Jimmy g I don't see this passing attack telling me yes on that one. Yeah, I think there might be a little issue there between coach and quarterback in San Francisco. But also we know that he's safe because we've seen the options behind Jimmy g that. It's funny because we just

talked about where Big Ben fits. Is he, you know, a high end game manager. That's what I see Jimmy g as and when he's healthy and the opponent is right, he could carve up anybody against good competition, he should be okay. But he's not a guy that maybe lifts you to the next level. And with the Patriots, it's like, man, this is why Tom Brady struggled so much last year.

They didn't put anything around him there. There's there's no explosive playmakers, and Cam Newton is back there holding the ball waiting for guys to get open, and you just put your quarterback in such a tough situation, Greg And yes, that's that's how the league works. Everybody say, Okay, the Patriots are gonna try to turn themselves into this read option run Cam in to the ground on go nuts. Well, the NFL just so if they're taking that away, we're

kind of back to square one. Not at the same level because Tom Brady obviously was a statue in the pocket, but where they're gonna struggle to score points in on a consistent basis they will. I mean, this is a team that's good at stopping the past, not necessarily good at stopping the run. So the forty Niners look at that, they think this is a good matchup and the Patriots, it has to be mentioned, I had all sorts of

offensive line issues. They lost Aluminoire, who was ranked as a top ten tackle on PFF, he's going to injured reserve. But they do get back. It sounds like Shack Mason and David Andrews this week return to practice, and that's huge. Last week against the Broncos, the Patriots only had a single offensive starting a lineman in the same spot that they started the year, and so that's gonna help them. But they have to win games different ways, and and

usually Belichick has the edge with the coaching matchup. I don't know Patriots fans know what I'm talking about. Think back to the early two thousands. Who was the one coach that you knew was gonna give Belichick's defense even at their peak all sorts of problem. It was the mastermind k Mike Shanahan and Kyle Shanan does a lot of the same stuff. I don't really trust Bill Belichick

in a man your shook, Greg. I don't even need to ask your peace scale right now at the Patriots, because it is you're You're in a bad way, You're nervous. You I've been saying they're not special anymore, and now I'm starting to hear it creep into your mind. The doubts. Are the Patriots just another also ran team. Is this the time? Now? Is it time to say goodbye to all the wonderful gallops into January? I think it is, and I think you you're sence. It's week six. They're

gonna not that the week seven. They got a time, They got time to prove themselves. But this is a big one. That's why I wanted it. Alright. I do not count out Bill Belichick in October. That feels like a perilous moved in. But that is sort of your move. Well, no, it's also like you mentioned, Mark, You're like, oh, the Patriots, they always figure it out after September. That was the old Patriots. This is now. That was then. Let's move on, Mark,

You're up next in the draft. All right, Well, I'm quite annoyed that Greg took the game that I was quite fascinated with. But I'm gonna go Green Bay at Houston another very interesting matchup. I don't think the Texans. They feel like a weird team that could suddenly pull up like four wins in a row. I don't think it's happening this week necessarily. This is a good bounce back spot for Green Bay after getting thumped by Tampa Bay last week. They're not dealing with the Bucks defense

this time around. I mean, this Houston defense is a hot mess. You can run on them, you can pass on them, you can do whatever you want. You can have your fancy. So I think this is a good job for Aaron Rodgers, for Aaron Jones, the whole crew to get back on track, because you know, it feels like in like rest in Peace defense in general, because the Packers have issues of their own, and you're gonna have these games where when a good one lines up

like the Bucks. Did you know I could come out of that really concerned about putting pressure on Aaron Rodgers and what Matt might mean for green Bay's overall attack. But I just want to give some of these teams kind of a mulligan. I just think that green Bay is more the team that we saw before that. Green Bay's defense, though, whether you measure it by deep metrics or just the naked eye, they are struggling. I mean, the last year it was all about Aaron Rodgers saying, hey,

we finally have a defense. Well, now you finally definitely do not in the pass rush is not there. Um, they are just they are not able to stop much at all. So this feels to me like shootout Central. I don't know who will win this thing. I'm not that I'm not the greatest predictor on Earth, but my trust is with Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. Sneaky good game. I mean what Deshaun Watson I think is playing awesome right now, lights out really the last

three or four weeks. And you're bringing up the Packers defense. Makes sense to me, Mark, because if you look at their d v o A, the Packers defense is actually ranked below the Texans defense there thirty in the league. That's how bad they are. And if you watch Watson, you know he's on point, He's making good decision. I think he actually has a greater depth of offensive playmakers around him. Uh, then Aaron Rodgers does. Now, he doesn't have Davante Adams, and he doesn't have Aaron Jones. He

certainly doesn't have the running game. But I think this Texans offense can move the ball quite well. I'll be watching Bradley Roby in this matchup. He is one of the rare cornerbacks in the league that matches up against the opposing number one, and that's a tough matchup. You'll see it on the other side too, probably Gayarro Alexander against Will Fuller, so Roby versus Adams. I don't know Adams.

To me, he's probably gonna cook him up in this matchup and Rogers really gonna need it because I think he's missing some of the depth with Alan Lazard out right now. Yeah, this podcast is kind of like a microcosm for the greater NFL world's viewpoint of the Packers right now, because you know what team, perception wise was hurt more by a game than the Packers in Week

six because we went into the first four weeks. They're playing incredible football on offense, especially not turning it over, running the ball, passing the ball, defense, getting the stops, and they're just they're cruising. Two wins to start the season they hit thereby and now after this game it's like it's welcome back all those doubts again about the Packers and uh, last season, you know when they were thirteen and three but didn't get any love from certain

groups who thought they were an overrated team. Mark you were one of them. Now is it time to start looking at them that way again? One thing I didn't like. I really didn't like how the Packers just kind of laid down. They got bullied a little bit for the first time on the offensive line, which has been so good to start the season, and and Aaron Rodgers and the whole team just kind of like put up the white flag to the point where Aaron Rodgers was on

the bench midway through the fourth quarter against Tampa. So, now that you've taken the shot confidence wise as a team, which version of the Packers shows up in Houston? Because I agree with you, guys. I don't think the Texans are a good team or a top team in the NFC, but they're gonna hang because they have a superstar quarterback. So I I'm with you Shootout City, you know. So one of the reasons Deshaun Watson Dan has been playing so well, as as of his left tackle, Laramie Tunsel,

who you came at me on Twitter. You said I have a complicated relationship with him. I was, you know, I was a little hard on Tunsel in the off season because he led the league and penalties pre snap penalties. I thought, if you're the highest paid tackle, don't leave the league and penalties. Well, you know, how many penalties he has this year? Zero? And people I trust Brandon Thorn on Twitter. PFF's rankings have him as the number

one left tackle in the league. This matchup could involve the two top left tackles in the league if David baktr is healthy enough to play, so you know, players get better, Laramie Tunsel making the leap worth all the money. Bill O'Brien genius general manager after all? Al Right, okay, and just that, yes, he he had a strong year last year as well, had some penalties, and I just feel like you've been up and down on him in general.

And now that that tweet jumped out to me and I said, let me engage in your mentions and then you were so fired been angry that I dared to do that. You didn't even reply, so I didn't get the rest. I didn't see it till hours later, as if we hadn't worked together for seven years, and even your bother I wanted to say, for the show this gold, this is gold, right area. You know who didn't engage that all was Jadevan Clowney going against Laramie tuns of

last week. I've never seen someone make Jeevan Clowney look like a little kid as much as tunsl did as crazy jadeveon Clowney. That's a whole other topic. All right. Up next in the draft, pick Mark Sessler. How about this guy's we will go Seattle at Arizona and this game? To me, here's another defense with the Seahawks that concerned me. I mean, they are twenty eight and sack rate in the NFL. They are not getting to the quarterback. You've got to deal with DeAndre Hopkins and Kyler Murray, who

is an absolute magician on the ground. But I'm watching this Cardinals offense sometimes and I think that they're still in search of themselves too. I don't I don't entirely trust them. I don't think that they played especially well against the Jets a couple of weeks ago. They weren't magical last week. They just do some things really well. Uh At that's that said. I mean, you know what I feel about the Seahawks, guys. I feel like every

Seahawks game is essentially the same. They can get into trouble, they will play. You know, they against the Vikings, I think they played their worst half of the season. But there's something about the Seahawks that they can overcome that kind of a half, and so this is, to me is sort of an acid test for the Cardinals. I know they beat they beat Seattle a year ago, but I'm not sure I trust this Cardinals offense more than I did the Cardinals offense from last season. Yeah, I

don't either. They're they're a strange team. The Cardinals are four and two. You gotta give them some credit for that. They're an organization that has not won a lot of games in recent years. So they're beating bad teams up that. They've had the fourth easiest schedule in the league so far this season, and now it gets a lot tougher. I think the Kyler Murray scramble right now is pretty much the most unstoppable play in football. I I saw people like kind of getting on the Cowboys defense for

not being ready for some of the scramble. It's like, no one is ready for that, but can you do at quarter after quarter? I don't trust it as much as those Seahawks receivers going up against these Cardinals cornerbacks. Patrick Peterson has not played that well this year. Drake Kirkpatrick has not played that well this year, and you have to just trust Seattle a little more and see

what Pete Carroll did defensively during the bye week. Sounds like they're probably not getting Jamal Adams back, But does he come up with any answers because that was not a Pete Carroll defense that we really saw over the first five weeks of the season. This is gonna be a great game. What a great quarterback game Russell Wilson Kyler Murray, and we talked about it earlier this week

on the podcast. Murray his playmaking ability is pretty terrifying for a defense, and now you have Seattle can't stop anybody, and this feels like potentially a huge Kyler Murray game. That's that's the kind of vibe I'm getting right now because and Seahawks fans are so angry over in power rankings Land that I still have them right at five. They want them at one because they're undefeated. This is

a team that has major issues on defense. And I just think that unless Russell Wilson continues to play at this all world level, and maybe you will and they'll be okay and go thirteen and three or fourteen and two.

But there's the other side of this and how these things typically work out, where if one side continues to be a major issue and you're trying to cover up in them every week, well that means the slump's coming and you're eventually when the offense cools off, the defense isn't there to pick you up, and you lose a few games. I kind of see that coming, but maybe with Seattle, and I think it's gonna happen here in Arizona.

I like the Cardow Well, I will have to disagree on one front because I just I think that Seattle can get get by with these defensive issues, and I believe in their desire and their overall team makeup and the whole Seahawks energy enough that I'm going to confidently lock up the Seattle Seahawks this week. That's my lot. You're such a predictable lot. I knew it. You've skated by last Seahawks over Vikings, lock the Seahawks over Patriots lockey.

You love these Seahawks closed games. You know what? Last week I tried to get fancy. I went with a young Carolina Panthers team. I got burned hard and dropped me out of first place. I'm going back to the reliable Seattle organization that I trust with my heart. Time now for Road to Victory presented by the United States Marine Corps. Greg You're up next, all right, I'm going down to the dirty NFC South taking a Panthers Saints matchup with all sorts of connections. That's why I like

this division. They're always just very incestuous. And this year you've got Joe Brady, the Panthers play caller on offense, going back to the Superdome where he helped the Saints offense, where he knows Teddy Bridgewater obviously very well. He knew him in New Orleans. Now he's got him in Carolina, and he's going up against Dennis Allen, the Saints defensive coordinator.

When you look at these two rosters, the Saints are so much more talented that the Carolina Panthers have to win with scheme and have to make Dennis Allen do dumb things, which Dennis Allen does. Sometimes. I think he overthinks that he loves to let everyone know that Dennis Allen is calling the blitzes and doing some wild stuff. Because when you just match them up, obviously, the Saints are way more talented. I think their defensive line looks

better right now now that they have Marcus Davenborg back there. Deeper, they're better. And yet I just think this Panthers coaching staff can keep it close and make the Saints very nervous. I would be concerned about one aspect of the Saints defense though, and it's it's shined in the past, but Marshall and Lattimore is giving up a perfect passer raining at the moment. Uh. You know, North Jenkins has been out of the mix side, you can you can pass

on this team. Uh. The on the flip side, Carolina runs sort of a zone defense that does not has not given up a ton of big plays down the field, but you can kind of operate these sort of shorter passing game hypercentage throws on them. And that is perfect for Drew Brees. And you're getting Michael Thomas back and Alvin Camar You can run on Carolina too. That has been a consistent issue for that defense. Um a pretty banged up defense too that lacks some pass rushers right now.

So I think this sets up well for Thomas's return, for Alvin Kamara, who was amazing the last time we saw him, and so this Saints team, you know, well rested. I like their situation here in a tight one though. These Panthers, they're frisky, they don't get blown out. They keep it, they keep it interesting. That Matt Rule fan club is still vibrant. Don't talk to me about the Bears game. It's still alive. People are still subscribing to the newsletters. Were going strong. Yeah, the Saints to me

feel well set up here. I'm with you. That was such a huge win to steal on Monday night football, to get into Earby and then regroup a little bit. And you would think Latimore unless he's you know, injured, and he's not himself right now and there's something else going on, we'll get better. Uh. And I'm not too worried about the Panthers. I think they'll um score some points here. But at the same time, Michael Thomas is back.

And it's interesting what's going on with Michael Thomas because it's yes, it's the high ankle sprain that knocked him out for three weeks, but then a suspension for punching a teammate and he's known as a volatile personality behind the scenes, and is this under control or is there something spiraling behind the scenes with the Saints, because this guy, I think Camara would be the Dave Damnaschik Jenga Peece

for this offense. But Michael Thomas is the guy that really makes Drew Brees better than average at this star stage of his career. So you have Michael Thomas, healthy, motivated, in the right place, headspace wise, Emmanuel Sanders starting to figure things out, get the chemistry going. With a healthy Camara and Breeze, They're gonna continue to score points. I like the Saints in this game, but I respect the Panthers.

That could be a frisky game for them. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think we need I mean, we need a little bit less of Taysom Hill. He was our weekly segment. He's not living anymore on Taysom Hill. He's dying with Taysom Hill. I look at I think, I still think he's a super fascinating player, but a gadget player is what he probably is at this point.

And it just it didn't look right. And I mean, I know, you know, Twitter Middle School had their fun with all of that business, but I think some of it was correct that this is like either it's it's either you're gonna put Breeze in on these plays. But when he was yanked, I mean there was one moment where Breeze was just staring at Sean Payton with like a thousand yards stair, like, why is Taysom Hill and the trust Breeze? They don't trust Freeze on third and long.

And I don't totally blame them. I think you're right, but he converted several of them in a big spot on Monday night Fall. But that's why it was so odd to me. When Breeze was warming up in the second half and making plays, they were still pulling them off the field for Taysom Hill. So I don't know, there just was some type of I don't know, incongruity there. It's fair. I didn't mean to shut you down there, right, Wow. No, I mean I love that Marcus finally given given up.

I feel like we should you know, celebrate or you know not podcast history. Let's use them correctly, Let's put him in a position to succeed. That's all you know, we got. We're getting a little bit too much. A little bit too much is a little bit too much all right. That was Road to Victory presented by the United States Marine Corps. Alright, that brings up the old Zeuser in the pics. I will take let's see how

manna hammana hammana Bucks at right? All right? So listen, what are you gonna say about the Bucks right now? What what can you say in a critical sense to to doubt them after what we saw against the Packers. They are when they are right, the most complete team in the league. Defense is absolutely on fire right now, and it's been that way for most of the season. Look at the numbers, look at the advanced analytics. This team is for real on that side of the ball.

And what it's done is created a perfect situation here, uh in that Tom Brady does not have to be the savior. He doesn't need to be two thousand seven Tom Brady. He just needs to be a super glorified game manager himself. And he's been exactly that and sometimes better. So I'm feeling really good about the Bucks right now. I'd be very tough for me to pick against him.

And you know the Raiders right now, obviously they have a situation with COVID nineteen that's created some indecision around them, and that's been a distraction that feels like every team gets hit with this at some point it's their turn. But they are also now coming off of bye and they are feeling great, or they were because they just beat the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes and Arrowhead,

so two teams with a lot of confidence. The game is being played at the depth star Mark Seessler, what do you think? I mean, you know, there was a lot of heat on Paul gun Through because for what you might like about the Raiders offense, the defense for a while now has been highly suspect. They held the

Chiefs to one score in the second half. I mean it was just that is if if this team is able to knock out Kansas City and then turn around and take care of the Bucks, I mean we have to call that a massive doorway they've talk to into a world of completely different expectations for this this Prater's Club.

And there's a little thing I like about this game is that member back when the coronavirus just started and we were all in our little homes doing our free agency show, and there were whispers that the Raiders wanted Tom Brady and what did that mean for Derek Carr? And I mean, Derek Carr is the kind of quarterback that I get that he's like a really nice guy,

but he seems to hold onto slights. That's the way I perceived into and I think it's got to be lodged in his mind that my own team had interest in Tom Brady, which is not a sin because it's Tom Brady. But now you have Derek Carr, who has like eleven touchdowns, one pick, seventy plus completion percentage. He's playing lights out. We saw what I wanted to see from him last week, which is aggressive. Derek Carr the thing that we have been missing, the reason I found

him slightly bland. It's it's happening. They've got the guys to throw to. This makes this game highly interesting to me because the offense is transforming before our eyes a little bit. Shissler, Wait a second, Shissler, you just sold your lot on Taysom Hill. Are you coming over to my used car lot? Are you coming over? I mean I'm driving by the car lot and taking a look at what's you know, what's on stock, and I'll and I may wander over there during my lunch break. Some

great quarterback players there. I'm with you, Mark, and you mentioned the one interception this year that to me showed the maturation of Derek Carr. It was against the Chiefs. It was on third and one. They decided to go for it and at the part of the field you can live with an interception. He got aggressive. It didn't work out, but I'm with you. I saw them going deep down the field in situations where they normally would run it. Now can they do it week after week?

I don't know. You're giving all this credit to the Raiders defense because they had a good second half against the Chiefs. Well, they played in the first half two and they stunk in that. I mean, they gave up a ton of To me, the biggest mismatch in this game is when the Bucks have the ball and their offensive line goes up against the Raiders defensive line and you hand the ball off to Ronald Jones or you're protecting for Tom Brady, and it's gonna be a great matchup.

As you said, you know when the Raiders have the ball, But when the Bucks have the ball, I trust the Bucks offense a little better. They're just getting to going. I mean they're at an elements. Godwin's healthy again, Gronk is doing a little uh. Everyone is playing a little better. And that's why I feel as confident as all years, which is why I'm probably gonna ruin my undefeated locks record, because one once you feel yourself a little bit, you get it wrong. I'm locking up the box. There it is.

I love it and also not a surprise. You know, we work together so much. I know we all know who we like and don't like. Greg's never gonna be sold. He's never coming to the used car lot. So he saw that great performance against Kansas City is ultimately a mirage. Like in Las Vegas, the tall casino building. Well, I mean Dan his nickname is used car lot. I feel like that's that's pretty rough. And he's gonna you can only go with one like weird nickname per game. And

I'm I'm riding the bulls assance right now. The Todd Bowls defense. And how about Carlton Davis. He shut down Davante Adams. He can do the same. We'll see to Henry Rods. And if you do that, then this Raider's offense not not as good. Some people are just better as defensive coordinators. There was no balls assance with the Jets. I can tell you that. Um all right, snakes the old suser. So let's uh stay. So that was Sunday night football. How about a little Monday night football the

Chicago Bears. You're gonna be busy at night. The Los Angeles Rams. You guys, put your feet up, enjoy your night off, because I got this another good game. This is a good week. This is a good week in the National Football League, in our league. The Bears. Nobody respects the Bears. They're five and one, though, I mean, at what point does that change? Are they just one of those teams that nobody ever kinda gives love or takes seriously, and then they're eleven and five and hosting

a home game in January? You know what? They might be that team, but go show me, show me here in prime time. Now. The Rams are a good team. The Rams are not a great team. They're coming off a frustrating primetime loss in Week six against the forty nine. Is I still like the Rams? Don't love them, don't think they're a powerhouse. So if the Bears are actually good, capital g good, this should be a game that they could hang in and potentially even win, And that's what

it's about. We talked about it. Market defense is kind of like an extinct species in the NFL. Well, the Bears are kind of like this exception where they're winning with their defense and they're getting turning the ball over and they're getting just enough quarterback play. I don't think it's sustainable for as a Super Bowl contender, but I think it's sustainable in Week seven against the Rams. What

do you guys think? Yeah, I think. I mean the Bears have come to us from nineteen seventy two, and I think their style is atypical to what most fans um would prefer to see. I think that includes some Bears fans too, or mystified that the offense seems to constantly be going in reverse. But they're five and one, and if you look at what they did against Carolina, I mean the they uzz old uh Teddy Bridgewater, who

has been pretty good this season. I mean interception on the first drive, interception on the last drive, caused to fumble right in the middle of the game of Mike Davis. That was the game right there. I mean, that's the way they want to win. They want to win these games like twenty nineteen, and I think they can do it.

I mean my concern is that I don't know, We've been watching football for like three decades, like there have been like six Bears teams that went twelve and four, stellar defenses and questionable quarterback play, and there one and

done typically in the playoffs. Or do they go to the Super Bowl and play the cults and operate in one of the most boring Super Bowls in our life in the downport So I don't know, flip the coin, or or they get a Coach of the Year award that you totally forget, Dick Duron Coach of the Year, Matt Neckach of the Year. It's a similar team, um, and the defense is going to keep them in this game, partly because their secondary is so good. And we know

Kleio Mack and Akiem Hicks are good. But I don't think Kyle Fuller has been getting enough love this year or Eddie Jackson. Those two guys are dynamic, and Kyle Fuller had a year a couple of years ago where he was an All Pro type layer. He is playing at that level again. So whether he's matched up against Robert Woods or Cooper Cup and then you've got Eddie Jackson. They're not even thrown at him anymore. He's complaining about that. It's a really great defense. And they are a different offense.

I will say with Nick Foles, if nothing else, they've changed how they're not succeeding. And now they're really pass heavy. I mean they were really run heavy with Mitch Drabinsky. Now they're really passivy. I think that's the way to go because Foles makes a couple of plays every week and you look at David Montgomery and there's just not a lot of juice in that running game, not of a lot of explosion there. I just don't know if

that matches up well with the Rams. When I when I think the Rams, I think you attack their weakness in terms of the run defense. They've got some good players in the secondary. Can the Bears moved the ball because they are definitely like a pass heavy Matt Naggy, I'm gonna try to be like Andy Reid type of team. Now. One thing that jumped out to me just looking at some numbers ahead of this game, Uh, the Rams are

in the NFL and points per game on offense. Well, it looked it feels that way watching their games sometimes it's like there's also there's been a general feeling that they've gotten better post Todd Gurley, and well, they're much better per play, you know, they're they're having these games where there's not a lot of plays, there are a

lot of running. I mean, they're they're one of the most run heavy teams in the league, and until last week they were super efficient passing, but then that fell apart. We haven't seen them do it against anyone but the NFC stuff that that's a that's worth pointing out. Yeah, who didn't like the lack of connection between Cup and in golf last week? I mean that that that kind of frazzled them and messed them up. Why do I keep saying frazzled on the show? I don't know. I'm

frazzled that you're saying frazzled so much. But I they're usually spot on Cup and golf. I expect that to be. Um, okay, who, let's pick this game real quick. I'm curious about this one. I got the rams in a close one. I don't I don't like what I'm seeing where they're a heavy favorite, if you know what I'm saying. But I do think the Rams sneak it out. Rams. I think the Bears win again, and everyone is like quietly annoyed by it, just like except for Bears Twitter. Bears Twitter has taken

over them. In Patriots, Twitter would be in the Super Bowl of of annoying Twitter, of of getting in my mentions. I I see you, Bears Twitter. Yeah, maybe the Bears win. They can get into the top ten of the power rankings too. You know, just that's what that's inside the building. That's what they're pushing for. That's the motivation. Right up next, Greg, you're on the clock. Oh boy, all right, let's go

to another early game this week. I know this sounds crazy, but I am intrigued to see Washington Dallas, um just out of morbid curiosity. Morbid curiosity because this game matters in the NFC East. And man, I haven't seen a week as ugly as it's been in Dallas. And I look at this Washington team and I think they look at what Kyle Allen did last week, and I think they convinced themselves. You know what It's like. I know Kyle Allen had that fumble, but he did have the

drive right afterwards. He did make plays and I think their offense ran a little better. Hey, we've got a top ten defense right now. I really believe that Washington does. Uh. Dallas is replacing their offensive line again, like they're missing their left their their replacement left tackle is out. Like this is a very winnable game for Washington, even if it might not be very pretty to watch. I mean, the pressure on Andy Dalton last week and just the

tackle play. I think interior of the line was okay, but the tackle play was a disaster. Yeah. I don't think you want to go into games and have Andy Dalton throw the ball fifty four times. That just that's not a formula that's ever really worked with the Andy Dalton family line um Cowboys to me. I mean, and you just the reports coming out this week. I had one friend that's kind of close to the team saying that the players a while ago work. We're saying that

this defensive scheme was too complex. And you've heard that a couple of times, like Rex Ryan's defense got that buff flow where like you're in week six and the players aren't playing off instinct and the Dallas defense has like these interesting parts on paper. I mean you'd say that someone like Layton vander esh coming back would be big for him and for Jalen Smith, and Jalen Smith is being paid a lot of money and is not

playing the way he has in the past. I just this, This feels like I don't want to like overreact, but I don't even think it is overreacting. And Dan, I think you mentioned this too, but I had the same feeling, like Mike McCarthy is he here next year if this thing continues to spiral this way? Or is Mike I would put it this way, Is Mike McCarthy willing to remove some of his friends from this staff upon further review? I mean, this is a disaster. When the Cowboys players

are talking this way anonymously, Um, it's still October. That's a car crash. Yeah. I mean, Jerry just turned seventy eight, and if this thing truly goes off the rails and there's a mutiny, I don't see why he wouldn't just say, Okay, I gotta I gotta try this again because I will have this talented core and I can't waste potentially two years with Mike McCarthy if he doesn't have this team

believing in him first place. Cowboys. I know people keep on saying that with this NFC, all these NFC East teams, but does it ultimately matter if they're terrible and the organization is drowning? Because what does it mean even getting to play January game if you have all these problems. Now that said, I don't love Mike McCarthy, and um, I also don't think the Cowboys are gonna completely death spiral here. I don't think they're gonna go four and twelve.

I think there's a lot of people that want to see that because it's sometimes fun to watch the world burn, to watch America's team burn. But the Washington football team they lose every week now and we can talk about how great their defense is, but they're losing every week. And Kyle Allen, listen, that's a guy I don't believe in.

Uh So, as much as like the world is on fire for the Cowboys, you know, some people could go and lock up undefeated teams and feel like, you know, Okay, looking in the mirror, I'm gonna be the guy that locks up the Dallas Cowboys. Oh my god, the road coming off a hideous Monday night loss on a short week during a mutiny, so you could pick your Russell Wilson's Uh, Sessler, give me America's team to get back

on track. Hold on. I mean at this point, these little slings and arrows, I am totally impervious to them. If we were to go look at your lock record, it's stretching into last season. There are some unbelievable cock it up where you're in a home with no mirror. There isn't there isn't even a mirror on the this is this is a bald one. I mean if when you can go against Kyle Allen, uh, it's bold Now, I actually do think it's bull Kyle Allen five drives last week, ten plus plays. I I don't know what

you're seeing. You know what I'd be worried about with Dallas though? Is there? Is it? It's their stars that like get you worried, Like Zeke is still there and isn't he that? I'm totally with you, Gregor, but can't you see Zeke he's an All Pro star? Or his pride, her people are doubting him. Can't you see two yards from Zeke? Can't you see it, I start all I want. All I think about when Jane Slater, you know, does these reports, is like, all right, who is it? Like?

Who's who's feeling comfortable enough to just bury it? It definitely feels it definitely feels defensive minded because the offensive staff is pretty similar to a year ago. So you start thinking about, all right, who are the big stars on defense? Things aren't going well, And I think it's a reminder to the Dallas coaches, you know, return those Jane Slater texts. You don't give her the respect, you take some heat, She'll slay you. All right? Up next,

Mark Sessler, all right, well I get that. You know the qu rating has tumbled below earth surface at this point, but I'm going Cleveland, Cincinnati. I left it for you. That's the game I wanted, but I assumed we're not allowed. You know, that's the game I wanted. But I just assumed we're all afraid of you. Oh, I you know, not there yet. I know that, Dan Is. I've taken the Jets two weeks in a row, and it's literally lowered my enjoyment of um human life. So I'm not

going down that road again. But I am gonna stick with Cleveland here, but you have to. I think the thing is, if you're a Browns fan, like, there's a lot to be excited about foundationally that I think Kevin Stefanski has shown through his kind of even keel demeanor week after week, uh, that he is someone that I think is going to be around for a while. The front office is not battling with the coaching staff for the first time since I was like eighteen years old,

So that's something positive. But you are clearly looking at a team that it has a defined ceiling and it's within your own nasty division. You've got Wall at thirty eight points, you allow to the Ravens, thirty eight to the Steelers. The defense is messy, and it's if if Myles Garrett is taken out of a game to any extent, they've got nothing to hang their hat on. I mean, I I really like Denzel Award the player, but he has not played up to what I've seen in the

past from him. Their secondary has been a huge mess, and I started with the offense, like Baker Mayfield. Look, I mean, I want to believe in Baker Mayfield. I want Baker Mayfield to be treated with patients because he is, like some other young quarterbacks in his fourth scheme, multiple coaching staffs, you know, a lot going on around him. But I have to look at his play and say, this is someone who is locking up. There is a

play last week and it's the Mike Fitzpatrick interception. It's a few others too where he it seems pre snapped, is locking onto his target and come hell or high water, and it was hell last week. He is going to throw the ball to that player. And and the problem there is you're not seeing Mike Fitzpatrick in that equation. And I'm not trying to, you know, diagnose what Baker Mayfield is seen or not, but it just looks to me that he is not able to visualize the field

and he's had he's struggling too. There was a play last week where Jarvis Landry, who talked about the fact that he played with a broken rib after the Cults games, so that's not helpful. Was wide open though, between a you know, a bunch of a bunch of Steelers defenders wide open and Baker just didn't see it. And it's a it's a throw that someone who's more advanced inside

a scheme would see he was punished. And so if you can get to Baker Mayfield, and now you're looking at the Ravens, who just signed Yannick Nagakway, the Steelers and Ravens are basically the teams they cannot get to. I do trust them because last time Cleveland got killed, it was Cincinnati the next week, and it's like all these Browns they are under a lot of pressure to show up and play crisp football against the Bengals, and

they did. They played their best game. But Nick Chubb is not there now, and everyone's saying, oh, you don't have Clean Hunt. You're You're don't have Nick Chub, You're fine ause you have Cream Hunt. I just don't buy into that Nick Nick Chubb is it totally different type of runner. Who is Cleveland Browns football to the course. So I am a little concerned in general about this season. I don't like teams that are just wild card fodder

that get beaten up by a better organization. But it's a big step for Cleveland to be four and two right now and not two and four. I think I figured out a formula. When Mark is nervous about the Browns the monologue goes longer, and it's if you're just kind of like downloading all these self doubts and all these things in your head right now. And that that was that was a big one. You know what, I'm

gonna say something Mark too much on Twitter on Sunday. Oh, same old Browns, the Browns, so they still suck and like, no, man, I mean that was a tough game. Your quarterback is banged up and you're on the road against the legit Super Bowl contender. You got your ass kicked. That happens sometimes. Now here's the test though, because if it's I know, I understand. But that was also Week one and that

was the Ravens. Here's the test to me. Don't don't get beat now in Cincinnati, because then you are the same old Browns. Then it's like here we go and you cut a month from now and they're four and six or something like. Get the get the ship going in the right direction again, and don't let negativity build because with teams like the Browns and other downtrodden franchises in the history, once that negativity starts to get way

down the it sinks quickly. So get the w get back on track, and I think this is a winnable game. I mean, Cincinnati is not a powerhouse by any stretch. They're not, but I think it's a big time test. I suspect Mark is a little nervous about this one. I would be. I really struggled on who to pick in this game. I did take the Browns to win a close one because they have the better offensive line.

I think they have the better coaching staff right now. Um, but they don't have the better quarterback necessarily, and that that that is worrisome. I mean to me, that's that's the bummer. So far out of six games with Stefanski, is Baker is not playing confidently, so you can we I we talked about him off the field, on the field whatever, like he's got this swag, like he has the opposite of swag when he's playing right now, Like he bails out after the first read. We saw a

lot of that last year. Mark pointed out kind of how he's locking onto receivers. The Bengals defense has been a little better this year. There they're dealing with some controversy after our guy Tyler Dragon formally of around the NFL, broke some news that Carlos Dunlop and Gino Atkins not

too happy about getting bench lately. But this Bengals team is alright, Like I don't think they're a pushover, and uh, I think you look at that they don't, you know, necessarily have a quarterback edge in this game, you know, if if both guys are protected, I think I trust Joe Burrow like a little bit more than Baker Mayfield right now. And Cincinnati definitely gave Cleveland a ride in that primetime game. It wasn't like a I know, the final score maybe looked like it wasn't as close, but

they went back and forth. They had a chance there. Mark its snakes to you, Well, I'm just so happy that I get to continue my viewing relationship with Justin Herbert of the Chargers who will be hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Gardner Minshew Spot. I am telling you right now, I I have I don't go back and watch many of these games twice because there's just too much, too too much to deal with in life and everything what's

going on. But I have found myself, like late at night checking out the Justin Herbert throws because I just love the way he I mean, he is a rocket. I mean you can just see it. And I think that for the despite the Chargers record, and despite the fact that you know we mentioned this, they're three and thirteen in these close games and these one score games,

that's the bigger issue. I think this is a playoff team that is begging the coaching staff to, you know, when they build these leads, to put the foot on the gas and squeeze the life out of the opponent. There's just something about the DNA of this team and we all recognize it that kind of just allows these opponents back in the game. And you've got a quarterback now that allows you to do something completely different and

his campids struy do with his receivers. For a guy that didn't get a lot of practice time, no preseason to come in and do what he's done right away, I love it. I mean, and you know, Gardner minsh you to me, has sort of become sort of the same guy every week. Uh. And it's not all bad. I see some really good stuff with Gardner MINSHEUW At the one play that I just thought this is him.

He was under total duress against the Lions. He is sort of circling between would be tacklers, but you know where a lot of quarterbacks would have been taken down. He escapes. He has that escape ability. He's slippery, and he underhands the ball to James Robinson who darts up field with it. But then a couple of plays later he lofts a past deep down field into coverage a little bit dangerous and it's picked off. You take the

good in the bad with Gardner Minshew. I the diagnosis is this guy is going to be in the NFL, probably is a backup after this season for a really long time. I think he does a lot of things really well. But when you watch Justin Herbert, I look at my fascination at Gardner Minshew and say, it sometimes feels more appropriate to have that fascination attached to someone who's going to be in our life as a starter

for like fifteen twenty years. I mean, this is uh mate and Taysom Hill this week Mark you have to eat like we're in a time where you have to be able to say I liked this, but now I like this more and it's because of the evidence unseen. Well, yeah, Justin Herbert, I mean that's it's no comparison. Uh, and he's gonna You're gonna like him more after this week because he's playing the Jaguars defense. I mean, this is the worst defense in the league. They're just they're picking

up guys up the street and they're starting them that week. Uh, like last week Kamalaya Korea and uh, who is the other one that they signed, Jabal Shared They signed him like two days before the game, and then they're both committing costly penalties in the game. I mean that that's what happens. So this is a game that charges you would think would be able to roll up on him. I want to see if they can do that too, because a lot of positive things going on with them.

Joey Bosa and Keenan Allen were clearly not acent before the bye. They're back, they're healthy. Uh. It sounds like they're gonna get Brian Bilaga back at right tackle. Maybe not Trey Turner, but their their line has been a huge problem. That that's good. You might get Melvin Ingram and Justin Jones back, two of their starting defensive lineman. So the Cavalry is coming and this Chargers team is one and four. You gotta just take care of business and destroy this Jaguars team. Who who is kind of

the team. I think I overrated because of Week one and and even week two, Like there's always one team. Remember we were excited about the Bengals after one week last year. It's like it was Zach Taylor. This guy is a great young coach. I think I did that with the Jaguars this year, and it's taken me a while to move off that off that take, but it has not been a good take. You mentioned Joey Bosa too, right, Greg, I did not okay because he played and he only played. Yes,

I did what I said. He only played twenty eight snaps against the Chiefs. He had knee, ankle, and triceps injuries. This is a sport for tough, tough people, so he gets that week uh, and that will make the defense better as well. My my feeling of the Chargers because I liked the Chargers too, maybe a sneaky team of

a t N candidate here. Um, I have them higher than any one in four teams should be in the power rankings because you just like everything about them except for their record and their ability to close out games.

So you look at where they're at right now. You know they won sixteen thirteen in Week one with Tarad a game that Randy Bull helped them out with, but since it was a three point loss to the Chiefs, a five point lost to the Panthers, a seven point loss to the Bucks, and a three point crusher to the Saints. So go ahead, like Greg said, go spank the Jaguars who stink, and get to two and four, and then you go to Denver and you see what happens. But do not do anything. Do not give us a

Chargers moment against the Jaguars at home. That would be a disgrace. And then we will we will spit venom at you Chargers here at the nonsense. Yes, you do not want to listen to the Sunday Night Show Chargers fans if your team lays an egg against the Jags in a big spot in week seven. All right, up next is Greg Rosenthal. Alright, I'm gonna take the Lions Falcons here. There aren't many games left on the board, and I I am a little intrigued by these two teams.

And I don't know if I'm annoyed there laying each other. Maybe it's good they're playing each other. I want to see, like which one is gonna be a little friskier, uh down the stretch here or at least through the mid season. Because the Lion's defense came out. They they bawled out last week against Jackson. I'm not gonna take anything away. I know the matchup was good, but the energy and the aggressiveness, the game plan, it was pretty awesome. And

the Falcons were even more impressive. I mean, it shouldn't be that surprising that getting Julio Jones back and Julio Jones looking like Julio Jones makes a huge difference, you know, it does. Like he's back, the secondary is a lot healthier. It gives them more options defensively for Raheem Morris. I thought that their offensive line in Atlanta, which has been a trouble spot for really the entire dan Quinn era, now Raheem Morris has actually had its best year and

they're okay, Like they kind of fixed that problem. They should be able to put up some points and I'm curious if they're gonna be dangerous down the stretch. I kind of like the Falcons in this game, even with Detroit coming off a pretty good performance against Jacksonville. I really like seeing DeAndre Swift be what I think they the beginnings of what they thought he could be. And and I hope his his role just continues to increase.

And you know, Adrian Peterson, we get it, Hall of Famer, but I mean, DeAndre Swift is why I got on this Detroit Lions thing in the start. I don't trust their defense a lick though, And I see this is like another rampant shoot out, which you know, shootouts used to be like, hey, there's two of them a week, and that's the game. You gotta go. Now it's like eight eight games a week seemed to be these shootouts because defense is apparently decided not to show up in

you trust the Lions though, to shoot it. That's where too against I do against the Falcons defense. Yet I do. I wouldn't say week to week, but the Falcons defense seems to be like a gigantic open barn door that just says, you know, bring the whole family in, bring all the animals and pets in, and have your way inside our barn. Two and three the Lions are and yeah, the Matthew Staffard mathf what a barn that would be Yeah, the Matthew staff Or was playing before the back injury

last year. If that guy was playing um for the lines, maybe they're above five right now, so they kind of need him to jump his play a little bit. The Falcons. I still I just you kind of feel it, or at least I do that this is a team that is ready to hit the the old dynamite thing. What's the thing that you know? Here's the thing though, I mean, you know, they played as well as any team in in Week six, but I don't want to put too much that Raheem Morris solves their team. But they put

the bank thing on those Vikings. It was thirty three to seven with a couple of left in that game. Another disaster show though that I'm just saying. It was like that was an impressive one week performance. Let's see. And how about your boy young Waiku? Let coup into the Kicker club with some of the stalwarts. He's sitting fifty yards now. His story that he's now carving out a real career is pretty surprising based on where he started with the Chargers. That's that's no joke. Yeah, he's

had he's having a nice here. Have we mentioned that kai for Bath is signed with the Rams. Now, wow, he's got to be a prime time Maybe you don't know if he's starting. They're not announcing that yet. What was the sandwich prop that you had that he would he would hit a game winner in a regular season game. Let's check in with the great Nick four tier go get my lunch dot org. The old zeuser said, Well, the old juer also said the Jets enter Week seventeen

with a mathematical path to the playoffs. But the old juser also in kai for Bath hits a game winning field goal within the final minute of regulation or o t gree sandwiches on the line. He's not on the team at the time. He's been working out like crazy. He's been on a couple of practice squads. The Rams have a kicker that's far inferior to Greg the leg who's in Dallas now, So maybe maybe it actually happens.

That's a little kicker sidetrack there. Anything else? Oh My point was, yes, they might score points with Matt Ryan and healthy Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley, but it just I don't know. I feel like the Falcons and Arthur

Blank another owner that's getting up there in age. They might be looking for the next stage of whatever the organization is at this point, and it makes for a fascinating offseason if Matt Ryan and I know there's all sorts of salary capitalications involved there, but Julio Jones like these are guys both on the other side of thirty for an organization that really needs a fresh start. We'll see what happens. But it was nice to see both

of those guys ball out in Week six. And for no out of the reasons that you know, Falcons fans and teams that are root for winless, bad franchise this it's nice to have a nice sun to every once in a while. They just they just ate a big game. Seven Braves l too. It's Atlanta's is a tough sports stand, tough sports. It's nice Dan because Dan just doesn't want another team taking that number one pick away from the Jets. So it's you know, whenever you can get a win

in there for you. I mean, they were never going to be that's a one in fifteen team, the Falcons. I don't I never thought of him as a real risk in that realm um, all right, I'm up. The Chiefs Broncos still there. Yeah, I didn't want another late afternoon game distracting me from Look at that. What a value add for the old juser and the biggest of

all spots Chiefs at Broncos. Uh Yeah, sign me up for Patrick Mahomes on a Sunday and I get to really watch closely this Denver Bronco team that the scientists Chris Westling and Greg Rosenthal continue to salivate over as a team. It's far better than their record indicates. And they're under the radar. I'm not saying they're not. I

trust you guys, you're the scientists. Um So I just wanna watch them against the top team like the Chiefs are and see if they can hang uh in this game, because if they do, you guys are absolutely right and um uh that's fun to me. So to see how does this defense contain or attempt to contain Patrick Mahomes. Levyan Bell I assume is going to be in the mix and some capacity for the Chiefs, which is very interesting because uh, Clyde Edwards Hilaire played so well on

Monday night. Uh and they even got a good play from their backup running back blanking on his name the Chiefs. B Thompson. Yeah, yeah, he he had a touchdown Darryl Williams and he ran the ball well. So you have a backfield that was starting to gel and now you bring in Levy on how how does he work into the mix. So I'm interested to see that and I want to see if the Broncos are for real, as

you know, a team that's better than people realize. I think they're gonna test mahomes as patients and Andy Reid's patients and their frustration level with all these teams approaching them the same way, because the Broncos are set up in a very similar way to me defensively as the Patriots, the Raider and the Bills in terms of that they can play coverage, that they're really smart in the back end, that they can let you run, except they're better at

doing that, like they do it every week. And and the reason I'm so high on them, Dan is because they're so well coached. They're a little thin on talent defensively, but Bradley Chubb's playing like a superstar and Fangio co coaches up that secondary really well and they're they're they're sixth in D v O A. And where I could be wrong, but where the excitement comes from is the playmakers on offense. I thought Drew Lock played pretty well

last week. Um those two interceptions were unique. One was a miscommunication, the other was an incredible play by the Patriots. And he made a lot of good throws that players didn't come down with. And maybe it's because I'm a Patriots fan with a bunch of guys that have no juice to watch on offense. And you look at the Broncos. You add Philip Lindsay back in the mix, juice, You add this rookie tight end Albert Oh. I don't know how to say his name. He's got a lot of juice.

You bring Cambler this week, love his route running juice. Jerry Judy juice, Melvin Gordon's coming back juice juice. You know it's like no a fan might be back this week. There's a lot of offensive speed. They remind me of the Chiefs a little bit. Now. They don't have Patrick Mahomes, but poor man, I'm just saying in terms of their team speed and the guys around them, a young group. They're fun. I love the Broncos in this game. To

keep it close. You are you are you saying Greg that the Denver Broncos are in fact the team that is truly younger. They are, They're gonna it's a tough spot the Chiefs on a short week UH Division opponent going to the altitude. I think it's a tough spot. Maybe I'm totally wrong now, I think, Greg. I I think watching that Patriots game, and I know that the Patriots line was banged up, but like Anthony Chikolo created

total havoc, I mean Bradley Chubb created total havoc. The defense is for real, and I mean they're they're obviously, um exceedingly well coached. I think they can cause a problem for Kansas City. And I love all the offensive parts too. I Drew Lock if anything is he's aggressive. He is willing to whip the ball down field into double coverage and take chances. He'll pay for it sometimes, and I'm not convinced he's the guy that's gonna be able to kind of stir the mix here and get

all these guys like to produce. But I don't hate him. This this offense getting healthy is kind of scary, and they kind of remind me like of the charges a little bit where it's like, I don't care what the record is right now, they could go on a little bit of a run because they don't have like they their their defense is one of the better around, and their offense is like we're just waiting for them to kind of grow into what they are, and it could

be pretty terrible. You can't kill him for losing games with drifts call and most of the weapons at you just can't. It was just bad luck. And and unlike some teams, they're getting those weapons back. I know. I Dan doesn't like this um trend here though, or this take by the scientists, because he doesn't he wants John Elway to go down and infamy good look good. I don't have any reason to I am not like a Browns fan. What did John Elway do to me? Well, he did get me in the title game, that's true.

Maybe that's where it's all stemming from. But Anthony Chiccolo male Jiggolo is a pretty good nickname for somebody that is good. Better than use car lot. I mean, just if you're trying to compliment Derek Carr, I would just say, well, that's not him, that's not his nickname. That's just the where it just sounds. It sounds too it works too well for you somehow, you know, right, just a little

low rent. But I got Drew Lock on Twitter on Sunday after those two picks, which I know the last thing anyone on Twitter wants to do is ever to say Drew Lock failed, but um it was. They were ill advised throws at that stage of the game, and it almost cost them what should have been a certain win against the Patriots. I mean, one was like the most amazing catch Jonathan Jones. I'm not going to kill him on I mean, I know, I know that's how it works with this guy. But that's fine. I will say.

Bencos fans got annoyed with me, and then another Broncos fan sent me a video of three bad drops by that Denver playmaking group that should have been big throws completed, including touchdowns four locks. So the numbers didn't necessarily reflect the way he played in that game. So I'm excited to see how he plays. I don't root against Drew Lock. That's always been misconstrued. I don't really root against John Alway.

It's just more like I don't love when certain figures just get the benefit of the doubt repeatedly, and which is he's had a little bit of a pass. He's had a little bit of a pass for the post era. I'm with you, um, but that's a great game. I'm looking forward to watching it and then I will it snakes to the Zooster to close it out and Buffalo at yets. Okay, this is good. I'm fine. I want to see how the Bills look. I want to see

how Josh Allen looks after two losses. And I believe it was six days tough, you know, tough situation there for the Bills, schedule wise, but they did not come out of it well, going four O four and two UM against quality opponents. And it it does put a seed of doubt in your mind about the Bills, but it doesn't. I'm not in a panic about Buffalo, and I don't think anybody else should be. It's a long season.

There are peaks and valleys. They've hit a valley and now it just so happens that they get the worst team in football in week seven to get right. This is a classic get right game for the Buffalo Bills, who can kind of get brush themselves off and and Josh Allen can go nuts with four total yards of offense and the defense which has been hemorrhaging yards. Uh, perhaps they can continue to do what the Dolphins did to the Jets, which was shut them out. Uh. Sam

Donald returned to practice this week for New York. At the time of the recording, we're not sure where he's at um in terms of availability, but that is progress in that direction. So this is a very different offense for the Jets if Nonold's playing, because Joe Flacco quite frankly, uh I can't play the guitar. You know, frankly, how much do we really need to talk about the Jets?

I mean that if you watch if you watch the Bills Jets game though in Week one, and it feels like a long time ago, it's actually the only Jets game of the season where in the second half they had a possession where they were in the game. So you would think this is a huge mismatch, and it is. The Bill should blow them out, But the Jets played

the Bills closer than they've played anyone else. And uh, I do think you look at the Jets defensively, they're gonna send the house blitzing Josh Allen because Josh Allen did not handle the blitz well uh last week or really against the Titans either, and so whether I don't know if that's the book out on him, but he got a little frazzled. And that'll be the Jets approach at least see if they get some interesting Why are you still talking about the Jets? If you said that,

we don't need to talk about the Jets anymore. We lost you and I just had to start, you know, right exactly, you know, couched within that that bad loss to the Chiefs, there was this one drive and it doesn't look particularly impressive on paper by Buffalo. This third team play fifty one yard drive that I thought showed Josh Allen's um incredible toughness. He had a couple of rumbles um in that game and on that drive particularly that just this is this to me is one of

the more fun to watch dudes who's around. Uh. Diggs made an incredible grab on that for the touchdown, and I just think, look at this team. You lost to the Chiefs. They're gonna get back on track. There are real concerns about the defense because that was not a one week situation. I don't know how to scout teams when they play the Jets. I mean, the Jets are clearly in fire sale mill. They traded away Level, they released Lembell, They traded Jordan Willis to the forty Niners.

Steve McClendon was traded Steve McClendon was traded, uh to the He was traded to the Bucks. And instead of like flying, he got in his car are that night in drove to Florida. That is instructive to me on how quickly he wanted out of New York. But uh, you know, more power to than I hope the rebuild works. Um I I what the thing? I don't like Dan and I don't want to hang on this river this

so we are talking about the Jets. Then No, but three months from now, Jets fans that like super Supported, like Sam Donald, are going to drop him by the side of the road to get Trevor Lawrence. Like I just like we say, we have a lot of time to watch him play this year too, which I think is I just want to see him put in a position to show us who he is and like that's just like, what's that's what Jets fans have been waiting for for three years and they've never had that opportunity.

And what's more likely going to happen is it's gonna not happen this year, and then you're gonna be in a situation. Mark put yourself in the in the shoes of Jets management. Are you going to stick with darn Old off three years of inconsistent play and some injuries? Uh, and knowing you have to give him a second contract? Or are you gonna have the number and overall pick and take this prospect that people think has Hall of Fame feeling. I get it. It's just like it's just

pretty bad. It's bad. But that's that's where it is right now for this organization. All Right, Josh Allen, you Greg, you've you know, famously been up and down with Josh Allen. Do you think, hey, by the way, Josh Allen, give me a break. We all like it's like, oh, everyone fill out the apology form and uh that like the one week where we're like, hey, we we gotta take that all this is a brand new Josh Allen. And then like the last two weeks he's averaging four point

eight yards per attempt. I mean, give me a break, Josh, I do, and I don't. I actually don't think he's been as bad as the numbers show the last couple of weeks. I'm with Mark, he's so tough to take down, and he hasn't been as inaccurate as those numbers show. I'm not that worried. But I also thought the m v P talk was out um was was premature, and that he's not going to be as consistent until proven otherwise as as a true top five or six type quarterbacks.

So I'm not I'm not that worried about the last two weeks. You like it better when he's Josh Fallon, yes or no? I mean, I like that name. That was fun It is funny, like none of none of the Bills fans like are now reapologizing back or asking for that. Yeah, no, that that will not come quickly. Al Right, before we say goodbye, I want to get let's get Ricky Hollywood in here, our wonderful producer who, first of all, congratulations, you got off the schneide, the

lock Schneide. You fearlessly locked up the team playing the Jets in Week six, The Dolphins responded with the twenty four to nil victory. We have instituted a new rule that is directly connected to your pick this week, Greg, do you want to let the list? Yeah, you're no longer allowed to pick Jet. No one that's that's fair can't do that. You were the only one that did it, uh this year. And you know, we have certain rules in terms of you know, whether a team is you know,

favored by a certain amount, broken those rules. You've broken him as the times you've got them wrong, even when you broke the rules. So we've we have learned when you're losing in sports, you're you're someone that will start breaking the rules. As Erica furiously scribbles out Bills as her lock of the week, what do you got ready? How about this? Okay, you guys forgot to mention this, and maybe you did mention and I wasn't listening. But you know, John Gruden was the coach of the Raiders,

then he's the coach of the Bucks. He wins a Super Bowl with them, then they fire him after a four game losing takes ten years off. Gruden goes back to the Raiders. Okay, he will be the first coach in history. He's gonna make NFL history, facing a team that he previously won a Super Bowl with as a head coach. So I have a feeling that this is not just a Week seven game for him. This is something even more. It's a super Bowl. I think, do we have a lock off? Yeah? I think he's gonna be.

I think he's gonna be pulling off all the stops. This game means more to him than I think other games. And yes it's Tom Brady, Yes this offense is on fire, but I think John Gruden is up this whole week, can't do it prepping for this game. And this isn't the Jets, this is the Oakland Raiders, and I'm gonna lock him up. Veas did move to Las Vegas just to let you know, but I appreciate the lock here. That's you guys. Don't even give me one little thing.

That's that's smart, Ricky. It's a lock off the bucks earlier, and you know you're one in five. You're five games back right now. The only way to come back is me to get some wrong in you, to get some right. So that that's a it's a smart way to attack me. And think about this, Ricky, think about this, Greg This means a lot to Greg. He doesn't like to let it be known because he likes to pretend nothing really matters.

It doesn't I want to get ready. Part of his part of his salary at the NFL is he's the guy who picks the games. So he picked the bucks and now locked them up. For you to now come in potentially win a lock off would absolutely crush him. And that's that's exciting for you. I know, and Erica, if you, I'm ecstatic if you not only you know, if you would have to start here by knocking off Greig, but if you were to come back in classic comeback fashion and win this entire thing, I will give you

my child Culton. I will give him to you. I think you're like two weeks from being mathematically eliminated, but they would be impressive. All I'm saying is, you guys are giving me crop for locking up. Yeah, do you want? You want a seven year old boy? Yeah? Sure, he's he's had all of his shots. He's great. Yeah he's no, he's healthy, he's all caught up with his vaccines and everything. Okay, good, all right, I'll caught up. Good stuff, fun stuff. Enjoyed

it well tonight Greg and a mystery. Who who are you going to do this show with? Tonight, Greg, We're gonna have a new guest, Stephen Ruise from USA Today for the Winning him in give him a shot. All right, good Greg and Stephen Ruise from for the Win. We'll recap Thursday night football. We'll be back Sunday recapping every game we just previewed here, So make sure you come back and enjoy the flagship show. All right, Dan Hands is signing off for Ricky Hollywood, the Quiet Storm, the

Old Boss, and everyone else behind the scenes. Thank you. It's always Bill. Sunday m